Teething & Tooth Care
In this post you’ll learn all about your puppies baby teeth, how many they have, and when they appear. We’ll go over puppies milk teeth and how many adult teeth dogs have. Finally, we’ll cove common dog dental problems and how you can prevent them.
1. Puppy Teething
Most puppies don’t have teeth when their born. When puppies teeth start growing in their gums become sore, this is the phase where they look for relief by chewing on things to relieve discomfort. You can find toys specifically made for teething puppies or look up DIY teething toys such as an ice cube. Make sure to supervise your puppy during teething to make sure they don’t swallow something they shouldn’t.
2. Teeth Brushing
Eventually puppies will lose their puppy teeth and gain adult teeth. However, its best to get them used to teeth brushing while they are still puppies, this will make the process easier later on in their life. Don’t worry about doing a thorough job, focus more on getting them used to sitting still and having the brush in their mouth. Make sure you use a toothpaste/brush made for puppies. (NEVER use human toothpaste on dogs of any age.) Brushing your dogs teeth is the best way to prevent dental disease in dogs. Over 80% of dogs over the age of three have some stage of dental disease.
3. Puppy Chewing
Puppies tend to chew on a lot of things they shouldn’t, such as your shoes or furniture. It’s your job to teach them early on what they can and can not chew on. If you catch your puppy chewing on something wrong say “No” firmly and give them one of their toys to play with instead. Redirecting their attention is the best way to teach them. Never yell at your puppy for doing something bad, a simple “No” will do the trick. This technique also works if your puppy has a habit of biting your hands or ankles while playing. Say “No” or “Ow” and give them a toy they can chew on.